Disabled children of color (ages 3-8) face multiple, intersecting oppressions in schools and are more likely to be excluded and/or harshly punished for minor behavioral issues compared to white and/or non-disabled peers. Approaches that center multiple stakeholders (families, teachers, and administrators) using a formative intervention called a…

This dissertation consists of three empirical studies that explore the educational experiences and trajectories of English learners (ELs) and students with disabilities. The first study uses longitudinal data from four large California school districts to examine the characteristics of long-term ELs (LTELs) and former ELs--those reclassified as…

Preservice art education students are often required to engage in Early Field Experience (EFE) observation hours before entering a credential program. Community-based art education (CBAE) projects may provide them with EFE opportunities to apply what they are learning in art education environments beyond the traditional classroom. This article…

The California Community College system serves over 121,000 students with dis/abilities who are both historically underrepresented and disproportionally impacted for success outcomes. Research indicates that dis/ability perceptions influence college stakeholders, impacting outcomes for this student population. Beyond the Cover...Living Books is a…

Long-term English Learners (LTELs) are the largest population of English learners (ELs) in secondary grades. In California, approximately 30 percent of these students are dual- identified, meaning they are identified as having a disability and being an EL, with a historical overrepresentation in the learning disability (LD) category. Despite the…

Community college students with disabilities (SWD) find disability-related challenges in online learning. Online learning is plagued with high withdrawal rates that impede educational goal completion. Prior to this study, the reasons for asynchronous online course withdrawal of community college SWD were not known. The purpose of this qualitative…

Community college students with disabilities (SWD) find disability-related challenges in online learning. Online learning is plagued with high withdrawal rates that impede educational goal completion. Prior to this study, the reasons for asynchronous online course withdrawal of community college SWD were not known. The purpose of this qualitative…

This study investigated the impact of technology on students with special needs. Technology is increasingly becoming more embedded in education and is used to help support a wide variety of student accommodations. As technology usage in education increases, it is important that research on its impact on student population groups includes special…

Background: Service-learning has been used in adapted physical activity and education (APA/E) courses in kinesiology. However, evidence has been lacking to clarify the need for utilizing service-learning in APA/E courses as an avenue to change attitudes of students. Purpose: This study aimed to compare two APA/E courses, one with service-learning…

While California Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CA CCSSM) call for rigorous mathematics for all students, students with disabilities have not been provided equal access to instruction that meets these standards. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based framework to develop strategic, expert learners within classroom…

Assembly Bill (AB) 705 transformed California community colleges by placing all students into transfer-level mathematics, including students with learning disabilities (SWLD). This multimethod study of one community college district explores the impact of AB 705 on SWLD. The sequential multimethod design includes three phases: 1) document…

The specific problem was students with a learning disability often do not understand how to utilize the best services offered through college disability programs (Obi, 2015). The purpose of the qualitative single explanatory case study was to explore the first year college students with a learning disability perceptions of disability programs to…

Many educators in California are unaware of just how harmful out of school suspensions can be. When suspended students are barred from attending school, more often than not, the rule broken was some form of minor misconduct. This update of "Lost Instruction Time in California Schools" demonstrates that despite the important efforts by…

Special education teachers have the unique expectation of being qualified to provide instruction and supports to students with disabilities in the educational setting. This phenomenological study set out to determine the degree of knowledge special education teachers have in regards to 40% of the special needs student population: those students…

This article addresses the need to uncover and examine implicit biases of early childhood educators through the development of critical consciousness. As a key point of entry to the school system, preschool has the capacity to be an on-ramp to inclusive education, where diversity in its many forms is seen as a benefit to all and a natural part of…